In general, how do you feel about the MCAS? What is it? I feel like MCAS is not just a simple test because to graduate and to get the high school diploma I must pass the MCAS. Therefore, this test is extremely important for my future.
What are your attitudes about it? Despite the importance of passing the MCAS I never fail to believe that my capacity is way more important than any test. It’s because I think this test doesn’t really show who I am as a student or as a person. I am going to take this test and do my best to never take it again.
Have you ever had to take a test similar to MCAS anywhere before? I have never taken a test like the MCAS.
Do you feel prepared for the MCAS? I do not feel well prepared, but I can surely say that I have what it takes to succeed in this test. From the strategies that are useful to pass this test I do feel confident to take this test based on what I have learned during my years at Boston International.
What have your teachers done to help you prepare? Be as specific as possible. There are so many teachers that are helping me to pass the MCAS, but I would like to mention Ms. Finkenstaedt, and Ms Alves.To begin, toward Ms. F. I started to learn the basic words in English. From there she started to help me develop the skills in speaking, writing and reading as well. She gave me the opportunity to be able to make connections with the skills I already have in my native language. Also, to translate the words from English to Portuguese, to draw pictures so it can be easier for me to understand the concept. Ms. Alves is giving me the vocabulary words that are needed to speak and write critically and effectively. Moreover, she gives readings, and they help me to develop the skills to understand the readings and the questions related to the readings. I feel like she is converting me into a very active reader. Lastly, Ms. Alves really got me to understand and feel confident about getting a prompt, and be able to break the question down so I can write a strong essay. She helps me to structure an essay depending on what kind of questions are being asked, and how many questions are asked.
Do you think it is fair for newcomers to have to take and pass the MCAS?Why? To be honest I think that it’s not fair, but sometimes we have to be challenged in some ways. The reading are too long and as a person learning English it takes a lot of time to read them. Also, it’s unfair because other students like those who grew up here have an advantage over us yet we are expected to perform and pass just like them.
How confident are you about taking the test? I am very confident about taking any test. When it comes time to take it serious I do, and for this test I will be extremely serious. After getting all the sources needed to perform well in this test I feel confident about it.
STUDENT A - Post-MCAS Interview
How do you think you performed on the English MCAS? Even though I am in the beginning of learning English I feel that I performed really. In English as I said before I had developed the skills to pass this test, and my teachers have helped me a lot to succeed in it. Even though English is not my first language I was able to do everything required.
Were you confident the day of the test? The day of the test I was more confident than any other day. I stayed focused until I finished the testing day. What made me so confident was the idea of what I will get out of the MCAS, which is to pass, go to a great college and follow the next huge step in my educational life.
Which section was easiest and why? Which section was the most difficult and why? I believe that section where there were only short answer questions was the easiest part of this test. The most difficult part of this test was when I had to read the passages and then answer the questions that followed. But still I felt that I did a great job in that section.
Now that you have taken the test, did you feel that your teachers prepared you enough? I could not feel that I was prepared enough until I had finished both tests. I was wondering what a great job that my teachers had done to help me.
Was the language used on MCAS fair? Why? The language used on MCAS was fair for me. I had the ability to make connection with what I already knew. There were many vocabularies that were cognates, very similar to the words in my native language. So I was able to break down the big and difficult words to make them easier for my understanding.
Do you feel that the expectations for reading and writing were too low, high, or just right for ELLs? In my perspective the expectations for reading and writing was just right for ELLs. As immigrants, people do not expect that much from us because we are in the process of learning English. Moreover, even though we knew how to read, we are not fluent active readers so they don’t have high expectations in our reading and writing performance.
What recommendations do you have for future MCAS test-takers? I suggest that MCAS test takers focus during their classes, not only English but all of their classes. This is because they will get to the point where they have to make connections, and by being well prepared in every single class they will be more likely to succeed in the test. Also, they all should learn as much vocabulary words as they can because there will be so many words that they would not have any idea they exist. Reading books will also help answer the prompt question when comes to the part where they have to write an essay. More important than anything else, be confident in themselves, never give up on the test and do not rush on it to get it done because they have all day to finish the entire test.
Do you think you would have done better had it been given in your native language or if you had been living here for 5 or more years? If it was given in my native language I would have done better, just like if I had been living here for over 5 years. In my native language I already have the techniques, and fluent knowledge of the language. Therefore, I would not have to struggle as I thought I would in English. By being here for more than 5 years that is just great because I would have adopted more vocabulary words, more education in English and maybe I would have enough time to prepare myself for this important moment.
Student B - Pre-MCAS Interview:
In general, how do you feel about the MCAS? What is it? I think the MCAS, it's a good test but at the same time, like, we get tired because we have to write a lot. But overall, it's not a really hard test. It's a good test because it will prepare us for the SATs which is more harder, so, and SATs is very important so it'll prepare us.
What are your attitudes about it? I like the MCAS because it's not that hard. The multiple choice is easy, but the open response and the essay are harder because you have to think more and you have to write more.
Have you ever had to take a test similar to MCAS anywhere before? No.
Do you feel prepared for the MCAS? Yeah, I feel prepared because the teachers like have prepared me for it.
What have your teachers done to help you prepare? Be as specific as possible. They gave us packages to do. It had exercises, pretty much it was like the MCAS that they had two years ago or a year ago. So we had to do the packages exactly like it was an MCAS test without a calculator and without talking. Like, for the English one our teacher gave us a composition based on it, and it was like a question that was from like 2 years ago, I think. And today she gave us multiple choice questions. A long the English class, the whole year we've been preparing for the MCAS. Because pretty much everything you learn in the English class, I feel like is going to help you in there, the words and everything.
Do you think it is fair for newcomers to have to take and pass the MCAS? Why? I think it's fair because, it will put them in a position that they have to like. I think it's fair because they, like, either someday they'll have to take it, so yeah, it's gonna make them prepare more. Even if they don't do that good, they'll still be prepared more for next year. For someone like me, it's fair to pass it. Well, if I chose to come here, I have to adopt here, so like I have to learn more, I have to work harder more than the other students because this is my life.
How confident are you about taking the test? I'm kind of scared. Scared because I might not know some words and I won't be able to understand it and that's gonna like, ummm, take me back from the right answer. But at the same time you could always use (the process of)elimination for the multiple choice., but at the same time, as I said I like the MCAS because it's not that hard. I dunno know, I usually do good on the essays, like if you look at the main, and like just read it over and over again, you'll understand what the question is asking. And just answer it, like and like explaining with evidence and examples to back up your answer.
STUDENT B - Post-MCAS Interview:
How do you think you performed? Umm, I think I did okay on the English MCAS. I'm just a little bit scared on the open response ones because, those are like the hardest, like the most points questions. And the multiple choice, most of them were pretty straight forward, but in some cases, like the vocabulary was a bit hard but you know I worked through it.
Were you confident the day of the test? Yes, I was confident because I was prepared for it. My teacher, my English teacher had prepared us so, like I used strategies that she told us like elimination if I didn't know the right answer, so.
Now that you have taken the test, did you feel that your teachers prepared you enough? Ummm, well yeah she has on the part of the multiple choice. But I think we should work more on the open response part. Because the open response are tough and they need like really good answers.
Was the language used on MCAS fair? Why? I mean, I thought it was OK for like. It was alright, but sometimes we had to use the dictionary. I think it was fair because those are words we're supposed to know. I think it was fair.
Do you feel that the expectations for reading and writing were too low, high, or just right for ELLs? OK, I thought, I don't think that last year they did the grammar thing, but this year they put the grammar too. Like they're going to count the grammar in the open response, so in the writing section they're gonna count the grammar so I thought that was a bit different, and like maybe a little unfair because we're not that good in the grammar.
What recommendations do you have for future MCAS test-takers? Practice more like vocabulary, and like skills on multiple choice like. And also read, like, read carefully the question and what it's asking you. And also practice the open responses because those are important.
Do you think you would have done better had it been given in your native language or if you had been living here for 5 or more years? Yeah, I think would have done better, but, still. Maybe because of like, cause like one of them was about a book, like what books we've read. So like I might have read like other books in 5 years. Until now I haven't read so many books. We didn't read as many books as the other classes did read, so what I answered was with a book that wasn't that much related to the question, because that was the only one we read in my English class. So, I guess we should do more readings. And also the vocabulary, maybe I would have known more words. In comparing the interview questions from both Mario and Xhorxhia, it was evident that despite coming from different types of schools (public vs. exam) their experiences as an ELL taking the MCAS was similar in many ways. There were more similarities than differences in their response.
DISCUSSION
Below are some major points taken from the interviewees about their attitudes and experiences with the MCAS.
- Both students felt that the MCAS was important for their future. One mentioned that it’s the test that will earn him his High School Diploma, while the other said it will prepare her for the SAT, a more difficult exam, and college.
- Both students never took a similar test in their native country.
- The students disagreed on which part of the MCAS is the most difficult. Mario said reading the passages and answering the questions is the hardest part. On the other hand, Xhorxhia thought the long open response questions were difficult. Based on their interviews, it seems like their difference in opinion has a lot to do with the way the school/teacher taught the MCAS. At Boston International, more focus is placed on the long open response questions that Mario finds to be easier. At O’Bryant, Xhorxhia’s teacher focused mostly on the readings and multiple- choice questions that she finds to be easier than the long open responses. Therefore, it may be safe to conclude that the delivery of MCAS instruction had a lot to do with their opinions/attitudes on the different MCAS sections.
- Although both felt a little bit uneasy about the MCAS before test day, both felt very confident on test day and after the test felt that their teachers had prepared them well by giving them enough strategies to use during the test. Both students in general are very confident in their abilities to succeed.
- Both students felt that they would have done better if the test was given in their native language or if they had already been living in the US for 5 or more years before taking the test. The students both have exceptional L1 skills, thus, why they felt that they could have done better if the test was in their native language. They both agreed that if they had been in the US for a longer period, they would have performed better because by this time they would have better reading and vocabulary skills, and would have read more books to help during the open response section.
- Both students thought the language used on the test was fair because it challenged them, they had a dictionary, and lastly, they had learned enough strategies to determine the meaning of an unknown word.
- Interestingly, both student suggested that future MCAS takers read a lot, and sharpen their vocabulary knowledge (two things which are very important for ELL’s)
Given that these two are ELL’s felt pretty confident about the MCAS the day of, it’s only right to ask: Are these two exceptions? Can all ELL’s perform well on the MCAS? And lastly, is this test as fair as they believe?
RESULTS
Student A - Pre-MCAS Interview:
In general, how do you feel about the MCAS? What is it?
I feel like MCAS is not just a simple test because to graduate and to get the high school diploma I must pass the MCAS. Therefore, this test is extremely important for my future.
What are your attitudes about it?
Despite the importance of passing the MCAS I never fail to believe that my capacity is way more important than any test. It’s because I think this test doesn’t really show who I am as a student or as a person. I am going to take this test and do my best to never take it again.
Have you ever had to take a test similar to MCAS anywhere before?
I have never taken a test like the MCAS.
Do you feel prepared for the MCAS?
I do not feel well prepared, but I can surely say that I have what it takes to succeed in this test. From the strategies that are useful to pass this test I do feel confident to take this test based on what I have learned during my years at Boston International.
What have your teachers done to help you prepare? Be as specific as possible. There are so many teachers that are helping me to pass the MCAS, but I would like to mention Ms. Finkenstaedt, and Ms Alves.To begin, toward Ms. F. I started to learn the basic words in English. From there she started to help me develop the skills in speaking, writing and reading as well. She gave me the opportunity to be able to make connections with the skills I already have in my native language. Also, to translate the words from English to Portuguese, to draw pictures so it can be easier for me to understand the concept. Ms. Alves is giving me the vocabulary words that are needed to speak and write critically and effectively. Moreover, she gives readings, and they help me to develop the skills to understand the readings and the questions related to the readings. I feel like she is converting me into a very active reader. Lastly, Ms. Alves really got me to understand and feel confident about getting a prompt, and be able to break the question down so I can write a strong essay. She helps me to structure an essay depending on what kind of questions are being asked, and how many questions are asked.
Do you think it is fair for newcomers to have to take and pass the MCAS? Why?
To be honest I think that it’s not fair, but sometimes we have to be challenged in some ways. The reading are too long and as a person learning English it takes a lot of time to read them. Also, it’s unfair because other students like those who grew up here have an advantage over us yet we are expected to perform and pass just like them.
How confident are you about taking the test?
I am very confident about taking any test. When it comes time to take it serious I do, and for this test I will be extremely serious. After getting all the sources needed to perform well in this test I feel confident about it.
STUDENT A - Post-MCAS Interview
How do you think you performed on the English MCAS?
Even though I am in the beginning of learning English I feel that I performed really. In English as I said before I had developed the skills to pass this test, and my teachers have helped me a lot to succeed in it. Even though English is not my first language I was able to do everything required.
Were you confident the day of the test?
The day of the test I was more confident than any other day. I stayed focused until I finished the testing day. What made me so confident was the idea of what I will get out of the MCAS, which is to pass, go to a great college and follow the next huge step in my educational life.
Which section was easiest and why? Which section was the most difficult and why?
I believe that section where there were only short answer questions was the easiest part of this test. The most difficult part of this test was when I had to read the passages and then answer the questions that followed. But still I felt that I did a great job in that section.
Now that you have taken the test, did you feel that your teachers prepared you enough?
I could not feel that I was prepared enough until I had finished both tests. I was wondering what a great job that my teachers had done to help me.
Was the language used on MCAS fair? Why?
The language used on MCAS was fair for me. I had the ability to make connection with what I already knew. There were many vocabularies that were cognates, very similar to the words in my native language. So I was able to break down the big and difficult words to make them easier for my understanding.
Do you feel that the expectations for reading and writing were too low, high, or just right for ELLs?
In my perspective the expectations for reading and writing was just right for ELLs. As immigrants, people do not expect that much from us because we are in the process of learning English. Moreover, even though we knew how to read, we are not fluent active readers so they don’t have high expectations in our reading and writing performance.
What recommendations do you have for future MCAS test-takers?
I suggest that MCAS test takers focus during their classes, not only English but all of their classes. This is because they will get to the point where they have to make connections, and by being well prepared in every single class they will be more likely to succeed in the test. Also, they all should learn as much vocabulary words as they can because there will be so many words that they would not have any idea they exist. Reading books will also help answer the prompt question when comes to the part where they have to write an essay. More important than anything else, be confident in themselves, never give up on the test and do not rush on it to get it done because they have all day to finish the entire test.
Do you think you would have done better had it been given in your native language or if you had been living here for 5 or more years?
If it was given in my native language I would have done better, just like if I had been living here for over 5 years. In my native language I already have the techniques, and fluent knowledge of the language. Therefore, I would not have to struggle as I thought I would in English. By being here for more than 5 years that is just great because I would have adopted more vocabulary words, more education in English and maybe I would have enough time to prepare myself for this important moment.
Student B - Pre-MCAS Interview:
In general, how do you feel about the MCAS? What is it?
I think the MCAS, it's a good test but at the same time, like, we get tired because we have to write a lot. But overall, it's not a really hard test. It's a good test because it will prepare us for the SATs which is more harder, so, and SATs is very important so it'll prepare us.
What are your attitudes about it?
I like the MCAS because it's not that hard. The multiple choice is easy, but the open response and the essay are harder because you have to think more and you have to write more.
Have you ever had to take a test similar to MCAS anywhere before?
No.
Do you feel prepared for the MCAS?
Yeah, I feel prepared because the teachers like have prepared me for it.
What have your teachers done to help you prepare? Be as specific as possible.
They gave us packages to do. It had exercises, pretty much it was like the MCAS that they had two years ago or a year ago. So we had to do the packages exactly like it was an MCAS test without a calculator and without talking. Like, for the English one our teacher gave us a composition based on it, and it was like a question that was from like 2 years ago, I think. And today she gave us multiple choice questions. A long the English class, the whole year we've been preparing for the MCAS. Because pretty much everything you learn in the English class, I feel like is going to help you in there, the words and everything.
Do you think it is fair for newcomers to have to take and pass the MCAS? Why?
I think it's fair because, it will put them in a position that they have to like. I think it's fair because they, like, either someday they'll have to take it, so yeah, it's gonna make them prepare more. Even if they don't do that good, they'll still be prepared more for next year. For someone like me, it's fair to pass it. Well, if I chose to come here, I have to adopt here, so like I have to learn more, I have to work harder more than the other students because this is my life.
How confident are you about taking the test?
I'm kind of scared. Scared because I might not know some words and I won't be able to understand it and that's gonna like, ummm, take me back from the right answer. But at the same time you could always use (the process of)elimination for the multiple choice., but at the same time, as I said I like the MCAS because it's not that hard. I dunno know, I usually do good on the essays, like if you look at the main, and like just read it over and over again, you'll understand what the question is asking. And just answer it, like and like explaining with evidence and examples to back up your answer.
STUDENT B - Post-MCAS Interview:
How do you think you performed?
Umm, I think I did okay on the English MCAS. I'm just a little bit scared on the open response ones because, those are like the hardest, like the most points questions. And the multiple choice, most of them were pretty straight forward, but in some cases, like the vocabulary was a bit hard but you know I worked through it.
Were you confident the day of the test?
Yes, I was confident because I was prepared for it. My teacher, my English teacher had prepared us so, like I used strategies that she told us like elimination if I didn't know the right answer, so.
Now that you have taken the test, did you feel that your teachers prepared you enough?
Ummm, well yeah she has on the part of the multiple choice. But I think we should work more on the open response part. Because the open response are tough and they need like really good answers.
Was the language used on MCAS fair? Why?
I mean, I thought it was OK for like. It was alright, but sometimes we had to use the dictionary. I think it was fair because those are words we're supposed to know. I think it was fair.
Do you feel that the expectations for reading and writing were too low, high, or just right for ELLs?
OK, I thought, I don't think that last year they did the grammar thing, but this year they put the grammar too. Like they're going to count the grammar in the open response, so in the writing section they're gonna count the grammar so I thought that was a bit different, and like maybe a little unfair because we're not that good in the grammar.
What recommendations do you have for future MCAS test-takers?
Practice more like vocabulary, and like skills on multiple choice like. And also read, like, read carefully the question and what it's asking you. And also practice the open responses because those are important.
Do you think you would have done better had it been given in your native language or if you had been living here for 5 or more years?
Yeah, I think would have done better, but, still. Maybe because of like, cause like one of them was about a book, like what books we've read. So like I might have read like other books in 5 years. Until now I haven't read so many books. We didn't read as many books as the other classes did read, so what I answered was with a book that wasn't that much related to the question, because that was the only one we read in my English class. So, I guess we should do more readings. And also the vocabulary, maybe I would have known more words.
In comparing the interview questions from both Mario and Xhorxhia, it was evident that despite coming from different types of schools (public vs. exam) their experiences as an ELL taking the MCAS was similar in many ways. There were more similarities than differences in their response.
DISCUSSION
Below are some major points taken from the interviewees about their attitudes and experiences with the MCAS.
- Both students felt that the MCAS was important for their future. One mentioned that it’s the test that will earn him his High School Diploma, while the other said it will prepare her for the SAT, a more difficult exam, and college.
- Both students never took a similar test in their native country.
- The students disagreed on which part of the MCAS is the most difficult. Mario said reading the passages and answering the questions is the hardest part. On the other hand, Xhorxhia thought the long open response questions were difficult. Based on their interviews, it seems like their difference in opinion has a lot to do with the way the school/teacher taught the MCAS. At Boston International, more focus is placed on the long open response questions that Mario finds to be easier. At O’Bryant, Xhorxhia’s teacher focused mostly on the readings and multiple- choice questions that she finds to be easier than the long open responses. Therefore, it may be safe to conclude that the delivery of MCAS instruction had a lot to do with their opinions/attitudes on the different MCAS sections.
- Although both felt a little bit uneasy about the MCAS before test day, both felt very confident on test day and after the test felt that their teachers had prepared them well by giving them enough strategies to use during the test. Both students in general are very confident in their abilities to succeed.
- Both students felt that they would have done better if the test was given in their native language or if they had already been living in the US for 5 or more years before taking the test. The students both have exceptional L1 skills, thus, why they felt that they could have done better if the test was in their native language. They both agreed that if they had been in the US for a longer period, they would have performed better because by this time they would have better reading and vocabulary skills, and would have read more books to help during the open response section.
- Both students thought the language used on the test was fair because it challenged them, they had a dictionary, and lastly, they had learned enough strategies to determine the meaning of an unknown word.
- Interestingly, both student suggested that future MCAS takers read a lot, and sharpen their vocabulary knowledge (two things which are very important for ELL’s)
Given that these two are ELL’s felt pretty confident about the MCAS the day of, it’s only right to ask: Are these two exceptions? Can all ELL’s perform well on the MCAS? And lastly, is this test as fair as they believe?